Silicon iron is a ferroalloy of iron, silicon, and carbon. It is an alloy of iron and silicon, both of which are available in abundance, and it also contains carbon in small amounts. The Silicon iron is mainly used to improve impact resistance of
cast iron in automotive and machine parts. In cast iron, Silicon iron plays a critical role in controlling the shape and form of microstructures, governing the formation of the Phase and Size distribution of the eutectic or nodular graphite.
Silicon iron has very good corrosion resistance and is a favorable choice for automotive and machine parts due to its good machinability. It contains around 0% silicon and 2 - 4 % carbon. Silicon iron is more ductile and malleable than pure iron and reduces casting shrinkage by increasing the fluidity of the molten metal, thus allowing for more control over the shape and size of the castings. It has excellent transverse strength, fatigue strength, and wear resistance properties.
In terms of wear resistance, silicon iron is superior to pure iron because the presence of silicon gives it the ability to form a hard surface film which helps its durability and wear resistance. The wear resistance makes silicon iron an ideal choice for applications that require constant and heavy wear, such as pistons, valves, and axle shafts.
In terms of thermal properties, silicon iron also offers many advantages. The level of silicon in the alloy allows it to have a uniform thermal conductivity which is much higher than that of other ferroalloys. This helps to increase the overall efficiency of the application because it helps to dissipate heat faster. Silicon iron also has a higher melting point than pure iron, which helps to reduce the cost associated with melting the alloy.
Overall, silicon iron is an excellent choice for automotive and other machine parts due to its higher malleability and ductility, wear resistance, and thermal properties. The higher silicon content in the alloy makes it a much more favorable choice over pure iron for applications that require heavy wear and constant thermal conduction.
